Improvement in machines for washing wool



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES G. SARGENT, 0F GRANITEVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR WASHING WOOL.l

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 41,324, dated January 19, 186i.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, CHARLES G. SARGENT, of Graniteville, in the count-y of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Wool- Washing Machines; and I do hereby declare the fol-lowing to be -a full, clear, and exact descrip tion of the same, reference being had to the accompanying. drawings, making a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 represents a view of one side of the machine. Fi g. 2 represents a view of the opposite side thereof. Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal vertical section through the machine.

Vinclosing-cylinder by means of rollers runy ning in cam slots or grooves, which rolls and slots or grooves were immersed in the liquid of the bowl by the rotation of said cylinder or wheel, and which allowed -the fiber and dirt to get into said camgrooves and clog the action of the cylinder. This I have remedied by placing the extending and withdrawing mechanism above or out of the iniiuence ot' the fiber or of the liquid; and, moreover, by

simplifying the construction of said liftingwheel, have added much to the economy of machine by cheapening its first cost. I have further improved the carrying mechanism between the lifting-wheel and the squeezingrolls, so as to facilitate the moving of the wool from the lifter to the pressing or squeezing rollers; and I have added fan-wings behind the pressing-rolls for beating up, drying, and carrying the washed wool onto a pile on the iioor of the apartment. These additions t0 the wool-washer have added value and importance to the machine, and have made it a desirable acquisition to manufacturers of wool.

To'enable others skilled in the art to make and usemy invention, I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the drawings.

b b is abox, tub, or bowl, made of any suitable size and material, and contains the scouring or Washing liquid for cleansing the wool, which may be fed into it by an apron, a, driven by belts and gearing inany of the ordinary ways. As the wool drops from the apron a into the bowl a plunging-cylinder, c, catches and immerses in the scouring-liquid. This cylinder c may be made with its surface covered with copper,and has three projections,c,uponits periphery for catching and immersin g the wool under the liquid, and carrying it forward within the reach of the rake e. The rake e has a motion given to it near the middle of its handle h by a crank, f, which is driven in the direction ofthe arrow 2. Near the top ot' the rake there is a swivel-joint, g, which allows the rakehandle to pass up and down through it and back and forth through the liquid, to suit the motion of the crank, and to properly guide and steady it. By this arrangement the raketeeth at their points will pass forward with elliptical motion or sweep through the scouringliquor, and thus carry the wool forward, and at the same time scour it by moving it through the liquid. If it be desirable to do so, or the length ot' the machine should require it', two or more of these rakes may be used, all driven and operated substantially like the one shown and described.

I he lifting-cylinder k receives the washed wool on the points of its protruding teeth, and carries it up in the direction of the arrow The cylinder has an outside shell, j, of copper, with perforations through its surface for the teeth to pass through, and has hollow bearings, as shown at w. The external cylinder j, which has its bearings x within the hollow bearings w, but of a much smaller diameter, and which is placed inside of the cylinder 7c, works eccentrically to the cylinder k. The cylinder j has ten (more or less) rows of teeth upon it, which, at certain portions of the revolution of the cylinders, project through the tion given to them a little faster than the surface speed of the cylinder 7c, and carry thev wool in a uniform and even sheet to the pressing-rollsm n, which squeeze out the liquor from the wool, and the liquor thus pressed out falls upon the apron o and runs back into the bowl or tub b. After the wool passes from bet Ween the squeezingrolls m n it is taken by the wings ofa fan, q, which loosens itup,partially divests it of its moisture, and throws it into a pile upon the tltor or ct'ier receiver.

Near the bottom of the bowl or tub b there is a perforated bottom, d, through which the liquor may pass, but not the wool, and below this bottom there should be a draw-off opening, as at s, for emptying the bowl or tub of the washing-liquid. The liquor in the bowl or tub may be heated by steam or by steampipes in any of the usual well-known ways.

One ofthe pressing,r or squeezing rolls, n, is weighted, as shown at p t z', for the purpose ot' regulating the pressure upon the wool passing between said rolls.

The drawings represent one way of driving each separate moving part ofthe machine .by means of belts deriving their motion primarily from the crank 1 which may be turned by hand or by any other lirst moving-power. Other gearing may be used, if found preferable.

The two cylinders j 7c, though separately described, constitute but one in their operation, both being necessary to accomplish the object, and might, therefore, be more properly called one cylinder, composed of an interior toothed cylinder and an exterior perforated shell for the teeth of the interior one to protrude through.

Having thus fully described the nature of my improvements upon wool-washing machines, I would state that I am aware that machines resembling mine very much in constructing are in public use, and I lay no claim to the general characteristics of the invention; but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In combination with the bowl or tubb, a lifting-cylinder composed of au inner and outer cylinder, or their equivalents, whose shafts or bearings are eccentric with each other, and arranged t0 operate substantially as herein represented. l

2. The lifting-cylinders j 7c, in combination with the carrying-rolls l l l, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In combinationl with the squeezing-rolls m n, the fan q, for taking, beating up, and

throwing the washed wool to its place of de- 

